Sat 11/2 @ 7pm
Disco Dada Dreamscape: The 35th Dimension is SPACES’ 35th annual benefit and art auction – a unique experience that combines art, costumes and music. Every year, SPACES has a strange, fun theme and this year is no exception. Last year’s theme, Polkapocalypse, combined Polka music with a zombie apocalypse; the year before that, Pop Royalty was a bright, colorful celebration of everything “Pop.” These annual parties always take place around Halloween, allowing guests an extra opportunity to dress up in costume.
“SPACES hosts this annual shindig [at] the end of each year,” says local artist, SPACES board member and founder of Tremont’s Asterisk Gallery, Dana Depew. “In addition to being a benefit featuring high quality artwork by well known artists – it is also a crazy circus of elaborate costumes to match the theme of the event. Much time and effort is placed in transforming the space into a memorable dreamscape.”
SPACES began in the Spring of 1978 when numerous Cleveland artists received a rather humble-looking invitation to attend a “gathering” and became immediate participants in the arts programming process. The term “gatherings” implied a community of artists, whose assembling and subsequent discussions would benefit the community-at-large. On May 25, 1978, about 35 people attended this casual, introductory event. Since then, SPACES has presented more than 9,000 artists from its three locations – first in PlayhouseSquare, then the Warehouse District and now in its current home on the Superior Viaduct.
“This will be my third year co-chairing the SPACES Benefit, and I am excited to be part of the 35th Anniversary celebration,” says HEDGE Gallery owner Hilary Gent, who also serves as the in-house event coordinator at 78th Street Studios. “We are honoring the awesome board and staff that have helped carve out a viable non-commercial space for artists to explore and experiment. The theme is Disco Dada Dreamscape and we encourage those attending to go all out in the costume department! Think sparkly bellbottoms, a Max Ernst hat or a dream inspired up-do…”
Indeed, this year’s Disco Dada Dreamscape theme is described by organizers as “disco balls, incongruity and the stuff dreams are made of…An excuse to pull out your go-go boots and checkered flares, re-imagine your dreams and defy definition.”
“We are excited about this year’s benefit,” says SPACES’ “Gallery Oracle” Marilyn Simmons. “SPACES was born out of disco, dada and dreams. If you think back 35 years ago, disco was at its zenith; the idea of opposing the art establishment embodied by dada was alive and well; and dreams of creating new artist-organized spaces were coming to fruition. We want to thank all those board members and executive directors who helped SPACES survive and thrive over the past 35 years. Like a reunion, we hope to see many faces from the past.”
The evening begins at 7pm with a VIP Preview Party that includes access to a private lounge, catered food and free drink tickets, as well as a “Buy-It-Now” option on artwork all night long. VIPs also get an hour head start on bidding.
The Dreamscape Party begins at 8pm with three auctions, a cash bar, finger foods, live music and dancing until 1am. The Disco Dada Dance party kicks off at 10pm with themed music, a cash bar and SPACES’ 12×12 auction – where all art is $75 and no larger than 12”x12”.
Tickets to the 7pm VIP Preview Party are $135 ($100 tax deductible), tickets to the Dreamscape Party at 8pm are $45 ($35 tax deductible) and tickets to the Disco Dada Dance party at 10pm are $10 ($8 tax deductible). A la carte Buy-It-Now Auction Option is available for $45 (100% tax deductible) and a la carte auction numbers are available for $10 (100% tax deductible).
Josh Usmani is a 27 year old local artist, curator and writer. Since 2008, his work has been featured in over 50 local and regional exhibitions.